Cajun Black Beans for #SundaySupper

Whew. After being rather indulgent in the past week or so, I have to say I’m quite happy for some relief with the recipes for this week’s Sunday Supper! The gang got together to create some skinny dishes that are easier on the waistline. I can’t complain about that!

In general, a lot of the meals I prepare at home could be considered “skinny” meals. I try to incorporate fresh veggies, beans, fruits, and healthy grains as much as possible. So, when the idea of making a skinny recipe came up, I was almost at a loss at what to make…simply because there were so many options I could think of!

What I ended up deciding on was a really simple and easy dish I like to throw together every now and again. These Cajun Black Beans are a great side dish, or you can really incorporate them to be the main part of your meal as well! The ingredients are pretty simple: black beans, celery, onion, tomatoes…and some hot sauce. Yep. Simple simple simple. A bit spicy though, so make sure you aren’t afraid of a little heat!

Black beans are great for you – they are filled with fiber and protein! Eating a serving of them will keep you feeling full, which is a big plus in my eyes! Celery is a source of Vitamin C…and what is really cool about celery is that (apparently) most of the compounds in celery hold up during cooking, in comparison to other vegetables that lose their nutrients when cooked. Score! What I love about these black beans is the difference in textures and flavors. You get the crunch of the celery, which contrasts with the soft and creamy texture of the black beans. I really enjoy it. And, if you wanted to, you could definitely add in other veggies. I think some green or red pepper would be great. Adding some fresh jalapeno for more heat would be yummy too.

There are a few different options for serving this dish. You can simply scoop it up as-is for a side dish…you could dip some tortilla chips into it as a hot salsa/dip of sorts…scoop it on top of a bed of yellow rice and serve it with a spiced and grilled pork tenderloin (my personal favorite way to have it for dinner)…or spoon it into some corn tortillas with a sprinkle of shredded cheese and lettuce for some Cajun Black Bean tacos (a favorite lunch item for me)! If I’m the only one eating this dish, I’ll usually whip up a skillet of these beans one day and use it over the course of a few days!

Do you have any favorite skinny dishes that you make in your kitchen?

Cajun Black Beans

Ingredients

1 can (15oz) black beans, rinsed and drained

3 ribs of celery, diced

1/4 cup onion, diced

1 can (10oz) Rotel

Dash of hot sauce (I use Crystal), to taste

Olive oil, to drizzle

Pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil on the bottom of the pan (about 1 quick turn of the bottle) and add the onions. Cook the onions until translucent, about 3 minutes.

2. When the onions are translucent, add the diced celery and a pinch of salt and pepper. Saute the celery until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the black beans, Rotel, and a few dashes of the hot sauce to taste. I suggest adding the hot sauce slowly and tasting it as the dish cooks…if you need more heat just keep adding a dash or two at a time. Turn the heat to medium low and allow the beans to simmer for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked through.

3. Serve as a side dish, on top of yellow rice, or in tacos. Enjoy!

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Make sure you check out the other skinny recipes for this week’s Sunday Supper!

I’ve been eating a ton of black beans lately for all their wonderful health benefits. I love that this is a new way I can eat them. Thanks for all the different ideas on what this tasty dish would compliment.